Camaro ZL1 Special Aero Package Test

Ah, the Nurburgring; the Nordschleife; the Green Hell. Whatever you call it, it is today the de facto measure of any new sports car’s abilities, to the point where it has sparked some not so polite exchange of words between rival manufacturers.

The 580HP Camaro ZL1, which goes on sale in spring 2012, has of course tackled the famous track. Chevrolet didn’t expect it to outperform the top contenders, exotic supercars costing many times more than the Camaro. Nevertheless, it recorded a 7:41.27 lap time, reaching a top speed of 273 km/h (170 mph).

“This time would not have been possible without the work of our aerodynamics team”, says Camaro chief engineer Al Oppenheiser. “The design of the ZL1 creates downforce like a race car, harnessing air pressure to press the tires against the track for extra grip and control at high speeds.”

Like most production cars, regular versions of the Camaro are designed to meet certain parameters – and one of them being fuel consumption. Managing airflow is crucial: the less drag you have, the less fuel you consume at any given speed.

However, track-oriented cars are built for speed and road handling, not high mpgs. Therefore, GM’s engineers tested the ZL1 aero package extensively at the company’s wind tunnel in Indianapolis.

Once they were done, the data showed that the Camaro ZL1 produced 65 pounds of downforce at 241 km/h (150 mph), compared to 200 pounds of lift in the Camaro SS, with the price being a little extra drag.

“From the driver’s seat, the downforce makes a huge change in the feel and responsiveness of the ZL1 at high speed”, explains Oppenheiser. “One of the best examples of how aerodynamics improved the performance of the ZL1 is the Fuchsrore (that’s German for Foxhole) at the Nurburgring.

“In the ZL1, you can take that sweeping left-hand corner flat-out in fifth gear – nearly 160 mph (257 km/h). That’s a great testament to the confidence-inspiring stability and control the aerodynamic design gives the Camaro ZL1.”

The aerodynamic package that transforms the ZL1’s handling characteristics consists of many carefully crafted elements. These include the front fascia with its reshaped grille “fins” and lift-minimizing corners, and the vented carbon fiber hood insert that lets the air escape from the engine bay, thus cooling it and at the same time creating a downforce-inducing airflow.

The factory-installed front splitter and tire deflectors reduce both lift and drag by pushing wind away from the wheels, while the two belly pans minimize airflow turbulence under the car. And while the rocker panels that reduce lift and increase stability may go unnoticed, the same won’t happen with the Zl1’s prominent rear spoiler which creates about 150 pounds of downforce while increasing drag by 0.1 points.

You can watch GM aerodynamics engineer, and former F-16 pilot, explain how the ZL1 package was shaped, as well as the ZL1 lapping the 'Ring, in the videos that follow below.